These teams arrive in Russia to spend a month on World Cup Island—with the potential to (a) be heroes; or (b) disappoint an entire nation.
Argentina, in the desperate throes of meltdown mode for an entire week, just turned a (b) into the biggest (a) around.
Continue reading “#16 // Banega → Messi Argentina 1 – 0 Nigeria“
This will be a short post.
For a short pass.
Because, when you see a backheel like that, you need only to watch.
And say no more.
Continue reading “#15 // Silva → Quaresma Portugal 1 – 0 Iran“
Look at the fans in yellow, as they rise.
Seeing what James sees, the open man on the run.
The ball to Cuadrado’s feet. The ball hitting the net.
That 2014 Colombia magic is back.
Continue reading “#14 // Rodriguez → Cuadrado Colombia 3 – 0 Poland“
You’ve seen the lofted chip from Pirlo, the Beckham cross, the world class through balls from Bergkamp.
But never this.
The toe tap assist. So delicate you might not be able to notice it.
You feel bad, you really do.
When a guy named Costa just cost Costa Rica their tournament.
Continue reading “#12 // Costa → Neymar Brazil 2 – 0 Costa Rica“
The best assist of the tournament just happened.
And something is rotten glorious in the state of Denmark.
Continue reading “#11 // Jørgensen → Eriksen Denmark 1 – 0 Australia“
Today was a day with no real room for genius, no passwork, no one moment to remember. Only three goals on the day, across three games—sloppy soccer still hounding this World Cup.
But a day with Cristiano Ronaldo on the pitch.
Making an assist-maker out of nothing.
Continue reading “#10 // Moutinho → Ronaldo Portugal 1 – 0 Morocco“
“I didn’t know Russia had guys named Fernandes,” you think, checking Wikipedia for the details.
Mario Figueira Fernandes is a Brazilian-Russian professional footballer.
Brazilian.
So that’s how Russia has been doing it.
Continue reading “#9 // Fernandes → Cheryshev Russia 2 – 0 Egypt“
It was only a matter of time until the world’s best assist man showed that world that skill.
69th minute, Belgium’s opening game.
De Bruyne. Lukaku. The Manchester Connection.
Continue reading “#8 // De Bruyne → Lukaku Belgium 2 – 0 Panama“
What do you do, seeing Mexico’s best ever World Cup win?
You watch that goal, watch it again, give Chicharito his props for the assist.
And then…
Continue reading “#7 // Chicharito → Chucky Mexico 1 – 0 Germany“
